From these real accounts she spun a picture book about the path a gift takes from a grandmother in Baltimore to her granddaughter, recently relocated in Illinois. Adventure wraps around the gift until it reaches Lucy, the recipient of now splendorous bounty.
"She's a wondeful storyteller and has written a lot of good stories, but this one is by far her finest book," says Children's Bookstore owner JoAnn Fruchtman. "It's a classic Americana tale."
Kids' Events
This weekend's fifth annual Baltimore Book Festival at Mount Vernon Place, 600 block of North Charles Street, includes appearances by children's book authors and illustrators at the Children's Stage. Among them are: Today
Black Cherry Puppet Theater. A local puppet troupe puts on performances based on myths and fables. 11 a.m.
Jerdine Nolen reads and discusses "Big Jabe." Noon.
Arlette Braman of "Kids Around the World Cook!: The Best Foods and Recipes from Many Lands" teaches children how to discover and appreciate foods from different cultures. 1 p.m.
Avi reads and discusses "Ereth's Birthday." 2 p.m.
Alice McGill, author of "Miles' Song," speaks on 1850s' issues such as slavery. 3 p.m.
Dinah Johnson reads and discusses "Quinnie Blue." 4 p.m.
Elisa Carbone reads and discusses "Starting School with an Enemy." 5 p.m.
Storytime. Children read some of their favorite stories. 6 p.m.
Sunday:
Black Cherry Puppet Theater. A local puppet troupe puts on performances based on myths and fables. 11 a.m.
Kevin O'Malley draws for the crowd. His latest work is "Bud." Noon.
Detective Dictionary. Kids solve questions using words. Elementary school-aged children are encouraged to attend. 1 p.m.
Jean Fritz reads and discusses "Can't You Make Them Behave, King George?" 2 p.m.
M.C. Helldorfer reads and discusses "Hog Music." 3 p.m.
Lisa McCue reads and discusses "Bunny's Noisy Book." 4 p.m.
Karen Rupprecht reads and discusses "Miss Prudence Penny Pack Perfectly Proper." 5 p.m.
Storytime. Children read some of their favorite stories. 6 p.m.
